Rear Admiral Nigel Stephen Coates

[kookaburra]

Somehow I had missed the very sad news of the untimely death in Canberra last week [June 2] of the Officer Commanding the Australian Fleet, Rear Admiral Nigel Coates, 51.

I only learned of it during a visit to HMAS Cerberus yesterday. They are planning a memorial service at the Chapel there today, and the funeral itself takes place from the Chapel at Garden Island also today, perhaps as this is written.

Admiral Coates leaves his wife Tricia and three children. A very youthful-looking man he had apparently swept through the ranks of the RAN,topping every course he went near. Not Navy, I'd noticed him during the Fleet Entry in Sydney in 2009,and its obvious this is a very severe loss for the service. Admiral Coates was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour late last year.

He died in the Medical Centre at the Royal Military College, Duntroon last Wednesday, a week ago.

[MelQuick]

Hi Kookaburra

A sad event. Life is so unfair at times.

Mel

[mstary1]

He came onboard our ship once during an exercise for a chat with command.
He spend some time in the junior messes chatting over a coffee. Was very relaxed and easy going with juniors and was well liked and respected by the lower deck.

His death came as as a shock and he will be missed.

[kookaburra]

The Navy's report on today's Funeral of RADM Nigel Coates:


http://www.defence.gov.au/defencenews/stories/2010/Jun/0609.htm


And an obituary by two naval colleagues, man and woman


http://www.navy.gov.au/Navy_Mourns_Tragic_Loss_of_RADM_Nigel_Coates

This second link also has prompts to a remembrance message site. I didn't know or have anything to do with RADM Coates, but, learning of his passing in good naval company, I found I was shocked - so I left a message anyway. K.